L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt Jr. (/ˈmɒdɪsɪt/; born 1943[1]) is an American science fiction and fantasy author who has written over 80 novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce.[2] By 2015, the 18 novels in the Recluce series had sold nearly three million copies.[3] By 2019, there were 22 Recluce novels.
In addition to his novels, Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact. In 2008, he published his first collection of short stories, Viewpoints Critical: Selected Stories (Tor Books, 2008).
Modesitt was the Writer Guest of Honor at Balticon 58, held from May 24 to 27, 2024.
Modesitt has stated, "When all the research, all the writing group support, all the cheerleading, and all the angst fade away, and they should, the bottom line is simple: As a writer, you first must entertain your readers. To keep them beyond a quick and final read, you have to do more than that, whether it's to educate them, make them feel, anger them by challenging their preconceptions—or all of that and more. But if you don't entertain first, none of what else you do matters, because they won't stay around."[4]
He met his current wife, Carol A. Modesitt, after moving to New Hampshire in 1989. Carol has worked as a professional opera singer[5] and has been a professor and opera director at Southern Utah University since 1993.[6] They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has been married three times, and has six daughters and two sons.[7]